All things considered, Invisalign is easier to handle than metal braces. The former is discrete, removable, and aligns your smile and bite in just a year! Even so, that doesn’t mean it can’t be challenging at times. In particular, many people struggle to wear their aligners for the necessary twenty-two hours per day. That’s a significant problem, as failing to meet that daily wear time puts your treatment at risk. Thankfully, though, this issue is solvable. To learn more, here’s a summary of the 22-hour Invisalign wear time by Covington dentists.
The Importance of the 22-Hour Mark
Aligners straighten your smile by nudging your teeth with micro-movements. These movements take place over months to prevent discomfort. The dentist ensures treatment progress by having you switch out old trays for new ones over time.
Because Invisalign moves teeth in this gradual way, you need to wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day. Otherwise, your pearly whites won’t get enough micro-movements to maintain the straightening process. Besides these delays, not following the rule can cause complications and discomfort.
How to Meet the 22-Hour Mark
Still, meeting the 22-hour mark is easier said than done. Luckily, though, some tips can make this wear time realistic. These include the following practices:
- Only Take Out Trays at Mealtimes – Take them out for fifteen minutes at breakfast, thirty minutes at lunch, and an hour at dinner. This approach gives you enough time to eat, brush your teeth, and clean your aligners.
- Make Aligners Part of Your Oral Care Routine –When brushing and flossing your teeth, put the aligners back in afterward. You’ll eventually associate cleaning teeth with your Invisalign treatment.
- Use Technology – The application Tray Minder can keep track of your wear time throughout the day.
- Keep Aligners Safe When Removed – Right before a meal, place your aligners in lukewarm water with cleaning crystals. Doing so will result in clean trays by the time you finish eating.
- Wear Next Tray Sets Before Bed – Starting new trays right as you go to sleep will let you ignore the initial discomfort they might produce.
While twenty-two hours can sound like a long time, the tips above will make it go by more quickly and easily. That way, your path toward a straightened smile will stay on track!
About the Author
Dr. James A. Moreau is a dentist based in Covington, LA. He’s associated with the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO), the American Dental Association, and the Louisiana Dental Association. His work specializes in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, not to mention Invisalign treatments. Given this education, he considers himself a “Swiss Army Knife” of a dentist! Dr. Moreau currently practices at MoreSMILES Dental and can be reached at his website or by phone at (985)-888-0668.